Mostly OT: Soccer US U-20 WNT, WNT, MNT News & Scheds

Saturday afternoon the USWNT started their fan tribute tour by snacking on Costa Rica 8-0 in Rochester, NY. More on that in a bit.

Before the game coach Pia Sundhage told the team that she's stepping down as coach (after the games against Australia) to go home to Sweden, where they need a coach. Good luck to her in her pursuit of that job (just not against us, if and when we meet). In her five years as US coach, the team got two Olympic golds and a World Cup silver inbetween. (USSoccer link.) She will be missed. Hopefully the next coach can get the team to win a world cup, which the US hasn't done since 1999.

Megan Rapinoe opened the scoring at 13', and Abby Wambach got the next two (24', 32'), getting her career international total to 145. Alex Morgan scored at 38', and Rapinoe got her 2nd goal at 45'. Sub Sydney Leroux scored at 77', Carli Lloyd at 84', and sub Heather O'Reilly at 89'.

It could have been worse: Costa Rica's keeper had 6 saves in the first 20-25 min, finishing with 12.

The U-20 WNT made the semis of the U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan by beating N Korea 2-1 in extra time. (Recap link.) They face Nigeria on Tu 9/4 @ 3 AM ET on ESPNU (& -3). Japan plays Germany at 6:30 AM ET. Third place and final games are on Sat 9/8 at 2:30 AM ET and 6:20 AM ET.

On topic: U-M had three players involved, but none for the US. Sophomore Christina Murillo played with Mexico, which got eliminated by Nigeria in the quarters. Juniors Nkem Ezurike and Shelina Zadorsky played for Canada, which did not make it out of group play.